Henry On Saturday Stakes Drives

Who is the only local driver listed in all five stakes finals and the Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational on North America Cup night this Saturday?

The answer is Trevor Henry, who has risen to the top of class since focusing his efforts on the WEG circuit. In his usual unaffected manner, Henry told Trot Radio's Norm Borg that he's grateful for the support he's received from the trainers and owners but also feels that attention is warranted.

"I've earned my spot there and I appreciate all the support I've been getting."

Listed in 14 of the night's 15 dashes, Henry is going into Saturday's major event -- his first million-dollar drive -- with a very matter-of-fact approach.

"It doesn't matter what you're going for, it's what you get."

Here are some snippets from the Trot Radio interview on each of Henry's stakes horses. To listen to the full interview, click the play button below.

Thoughts on the horse: "He's not a very big horse and I thought he raced really good for where I got away and where he finished...he wasn't beat that much. He tries as hard as he can, he's a real trier."

How do you feel going into Saturday? "He's gotta race better than he did last start...I had told the trainer he might need a little more grab. Mohawk seems to be, right now, a little deeper, and he seemed to be struggling at one point trying to get a hold of the track."

"I drove her before and I've had good success with the mare. She's a nice mare, she has a shot...I'm not saying at winning but I think she'll get a good piece."

"I think she'll be better [than last week]. There should be more front end speed; that mare of Burke's, she's a real fast leaver and there are a couple of other ones that leave fairly good. She's better from off the pace...she can do it either way but, myself, I think she's better from off the pace."

"He's a nice kind of horse but I think he's good enough to beat any of the really good colts. If he got a cheque, that would be great...he's great to drive and good-gaited, he never usually makes a mistake, which is probably the wrong thing to say going into a race like that [laughs]."

"She's a nice filly and she really surprised me...Post 10, it's going to be real tough for her. It's too bad, if she'd have drew inside I would have thought she'd have a decent shot but it's going to be tough out of the 10 hole."

"Most of the time it's the same horses in these races, you pretty much know what's going on but [Always B Miki] will add some speed to the race which will probably help Nickle Bag because he's a great closer. He can do it from anywhere but he can close very fast."

"I would think that's going to be one of my best shots of the night. She's got the rail, she's a nice mare and can leave fast."

To view the entries for Saturday's card at Mohawk or a free program for Mohawk’s Saturday card, courtesy of TrackIT, click on one of the following links: Saturday Entries -- Saturday Program Pages.

The Pepsi North America Cup is the centerpiece of Mohawk’s fantastic Saturday card of racing that will also feature the $438,000 final of the Fan Hanover Stakes (which will showcase three-year-old pacing fillies), the $370,000 final of the Roses Are Red (pacing mares), the $267,000 final of the Armbro Flight (trotting mares), the $268,000 final of the Goodtimes Stakes (three-year-old trotting colts), and the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup (invitational pacers).

TSN2 will televise the Cup final live on Saturday. First-race post time for Mohawk’s Saturday card of racing is 6:30 p.m. The NA Cup has been slotted as Race 12 on the 15-dash card and has an approximate post time of 10:40 p.m.

Mohawk will offer three Pick-4 wagers Saturday, including an All Stakes Pick-4 with a $100,000 guaranteed pool, comprising Races 9 through 12 and featuring the Roses Are Red, Mohawk Gold Cup, Fan Hanover and Pepsi North America Cup.

The opinions expressed are those of the participants and do not necessarily represent those of Standardbred Canada.